Dr. Jay Johannigman Returns to Cincinnati to Strengthen Emergency Preparedness
Ohio Pen/10302757

CINCINNATI - OhioPen -- Dr. Jay Johannigman, a nationally recognized trauma and critical care surgeon with over 40 years of experience, has returned to his hometown of Cincinnati to enhance the region's emergency preparedness and complete his remarkable career where it began. Following impactful work in Denver and San Antonio, Dr. Johannigman is partnering with local hospitals and trauma response teams to enhance Greater Cincinnati's capacity to handle crises.

A Cincinnati native, Dr. Johannigman played a key role in establishing the Cincinnati C-STARS (Center for Sustainment of Trauma and Readiness Skills), which trains military medical teams in combat casualty care. He earned his degree in biology from Kenyon College and his medical degree from Case Western Reserve University, followed by specialized training in trauma and surgical critical care. Later, serving as the Trauma Director at Balad Air Base in Iraq, a consultant surgeon for Air Force Special Operations Command, and a colonel at the Pentagon's Office of the Surgeon General. He also completed advanced training at Brooks AFB's Aerospace Medicine Primary Course and graduated from the Air War College.

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In Denver, Dr. Johannigman led efforts to make whole blood more accessible in remote areas, transforming prehospital care for trauma patients. In San Antonio, at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center, he served as Medical Director of Surgical Critical Care. He taught at the University of Texas Health Science Center, mentoring future trauma surgeons.

Now retired from the U.S. Army Reserve, Dr. Johannigman has earned the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, and the Distinguished Service Award from the Military Health System Research Symposium. He has co-authored nearly 100 publications, including a 2012 study in Respiratory Care on the innovative use of ventilators.

His honors include Advanced Trauma Life Support Certification and the Cincinnati Reds Opening Day Hometown Hero Award. Johannigman's mission in Cincinnati is to bolster the healthcare system's readiness for mass casualty events. With the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, a Level I trauma center, as a foundation, he aims to address gaps highlighted in a 2023 American Hospital Association report, which noted widespread hospital underpreparedness for large-scale emergencies.

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"Cincinnati is my home, and I'm dedicated to ensuring our hospitals and EMS providers are prepared for any crisis," he said. "Lives are saved by good communication, quick action, and teams that know exactly what to do, whether you're in a war zone or back home," said Dr. Johannigman.

Dr. Johannigman remains involved in shaping trauma policy nationwide through the American College of Surgeons' Committee on Trauma. His return to Cincinnati is personal. It's about giving back to the city that shaped him and helping build a stronger, more prepared future for its people.